SAN FRANCISCO / City official faces 15 fraud charges

Published 4:00 am, Thursday, September 29, 2005

A city building official already accused of 15 bribery-related charges has been accused of another 15 counts, most related to an alleged insurance fraud scheme involving roof repairs to his Oakland home.

Augustine Fallay, 47, a manager with the Department of Building Inspection, was charged last month with bribery in connection with a $50,000 loan and other favors he allegedly received from a former contractor. He received the loan 10 days after he approved the contractor's project in Glen Park, records show.

Prosecutors have now brought new bribery charges as well as fraud charges stemming from roof repairs that Fallay made to his Oakland home in 2001. Prosecutors say Fallay filed fraudulent claims with First American Specialty Insurance and sought fraudulent assistance from contractors to receive an insurance payment.

"I'm confident he's going to be vindicated when the evidence is presented," said Randall Knox, Fallay's attorney.